Machine for husking corn



L MASSEY.

Cam Huskeia Patented March 3, 1857.

Wz'fnesses N. FEHIRS. Pholo-Limugmprer. Washington D. c,

; UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN MASSEY, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

' MACHINE FOR HUSKING- CORN.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 16,740, dated March 3, 1857.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JOHN MASSEY, of the city of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for I-Iusking Corn; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon.

Figure I, is an isometrical perspective of the machine; A, circular cutter plate; 6, e, e, cutter teeth; B, revolving tubular bur; C, sliding table, upon which the ears of corn are fed to the cutters; D, driving shaft for cutters; E, pulley to shaft 91., n; G, multiplying pulley; H multiplying pulley; K, pulley on cutter shaft D; L, pulley on same shaft with the tubular bur B; M, M, M, main frame; I, pulley, connecting by band to pulley L.

Fig. II, represents a top plan view of my machine. Letters of the same name refer to like parts, as in Fig. I.

Fig. III,represents a circular cover, which sets over the cutter when in use, in order to protect the operator from accident. This cover has an opening at P, suflicient to allow the cutter to act upon the stalk and husks, as the ears of corn are fed to the cutter on the sliding table C.

Fig. IV, represents a table which sets over the cover and over the shafts n, and D. Upon this table the corn is put before it is husked, so as to be within the convenient reach of the operator.

The nature of my invention consists in the construction and use of a tapering, tubular revolving bur: for the purpose of removing the husks from the ears of corn, after the husks and stalk have been severed by the cutter. I also employ a rotary bevel edged cutter for the purpose of severing the husks and stalk from the cob.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

The drawings are made on a scale of about one inch and an half to the foot. The main frame M, M, M, which supports the moving machinery is made of wood in a common workmanlike manner. I make my tapering tubular bur B, of sheet iron. It should be about five inches in length, and about three inches in diameter at its mouth, and taper to one inch in diameter at its connection, with its driving shaft. Small holes are punched through, so as to leave a bur on the inside. It is connected or fastened onto the end of the same shaft upon which is the pulley L. It projects from the end of its shaft, so as to revolve outside of the frame as represented at B, in the drawings Fig. I. It is made to revolve rapidly, by means of a band, from the pulley I, to the pulley L. This bur is sufliciently broad at its mouth to admit the largest sized ear of corn, and also tapering to one inch in diameter at its smallest end it will catch, and strip off, the husks from any sized ear of corn. The ear of corn being required to enter only far enough for the bur to catch the husks and strip them from the corn.

In operating the machine the ears of corn are brought together, and placed upon the table, which sits upon the main frame, over the shafts n, and D, (which table is represented in Fig. IV) so as to be within reach of the operator. The operator now takes the corn, ear by ear and with his hand holds them upon the sliding table C, so as to bring the butt of the cob in range with the cutter. The sliding table is now moved toward the cutter, so that the husks and stalk will be severed, close to the corn. When this is done, and before the corn has passed from the hand of the operator, the tip of the ear of corn is thrust into the revolving tubular bur B, and the husks are thereby loosened and removed from the corn. In this manner the husks can be removed from the corn with great rapidity.

My revolving cutter (represented at A, e, e, 6, Fig. I,) is about sixteen inches in diameter. It is made of the best quality of sheet steel. The teeth 6 e e are beveled on one side only, and brought to an edgethe bevel ext-ending onto the cutter plate about three inches. This gives a smooth cutting edge, like a carpenters chisel. An advantage is gained by this form of cutter over a saw, or any cutter which cuts away a chip, for the reason that the corn stalk is of such a string fibrous character that it is liable to clog the cutter, unless the cut is smooth and sharp and upon an angle.

I am not aware that cutters of this description have ever before been employed for this purpose.

The drawings represent the machine, to be I tions as substantially embrace the principle I of my invention.

I claim- The tapering tubular bur B for the purpose of removing the husks from the corn, when arranged and operating substantially as herein set forth.

JOHN MASSEY.

SAM. COOPER,

i Witnesses:

THos. R. RoAoH. 

